Fearless Aces Stretch-Out in Brooklyn
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Fearless takes over en route to victory in the Brooklyn Stakes at Belmont Park
Repole Stable's Fearless aced his first try at the 1 1/2-mile distance in his first time racing around Big Sandy June 11, with a 2 3/4-length victory in the $400,000 Brooklyn Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.
The 6-year-old Ghostzapper gelding carried jockey Luis Saez to the winner's circle from a stalking spot in third off the pace set by fellow Todd Pletcher trainee First Constitution , rebounding from a second to Last Samurai in the April 23 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
"We anticipated he'd handle the distance," Pletcher remarked. "Of course, you never know until you try it, but he's always given us that impression that he would keep grinding it out "
"Today, this was perfect for him," Saez said. "I started riding from the half mile and he kept running... I'm very proud to be a part of his amazing team."
First Constitution ran the quarter in :24.94, a half in :50.06, and three-quarters in 1:15.15 under Jose Lezcano, with Lone Rock second under Ramon Vazquez and Fearless moving up to third on the outside as a mile went in 1:39.41. Fearless took over off the turn for home through 1 1/4 miles in 2:04.29, putting away First Constitution and favored Lone Rock under right-handed urging from Saez. Warrant closed late to edge Lone Rock for the place.
The final time was 2:30.45 on a fast track. Sent off at odds of 7-2, Fearless returned $9.30 on a $2 win wager.
Vazquez gave props to the winner after finishing third aboard Lone Rock.
"He had a perfect trip, no excuses," he said. "(Fearless) made a good impression today and my horse responded well, but the other horse had a little bit more."
Owner Mike Repole spoke to the versatility of Fearless, who has won going as short as six furlongs.
"The horse can go six furlongs to a mile and a half," he said. "He's a gelding, so as long as he's healthy he's going to be around awhile. He's a fun horse to own… I owned Caixa Eletronica years ago, one of my favorites. He was a son of the most obscure stallion. He went six furlongs, he went longer distances, he did it all. This horse reminds me a lot of that horse."
Mike Repole lifts daughter Gioia Repole to pet Fearless in the winner's circle
Bred in Kentucky by Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust out of the winning, grade 1-placed Street Cry mare And Why Not, Fearless improved his record to 7-6-1 from 16 starts, with earnings of $1,126,450. The half brother to stakes-winning, grade 3-placed Just Whistle has won or placed in seven starts, six of them in graded stakes company, since he was purchased for $205,000 by West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable, from ELiTE Agent's consignment to the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale.
And Why Not has an unraced 2-year-old daughter of Blame named Undoubtedly. She was reported bred to Gun Runner for 2022 after coming up barren in 2021.
According to Pletcher, the July 9 Suburban (G2) at Belmont could be in play for Fearless.
"I think he's versatile enough he can back up to a mile and an eighth or go further," he said.